Cleveland Browns open as road underdogs to the Rams
By Thomas Moore
Oct 18, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns nose tackle Danny Shelton (71) signs autographs before the game between the Cleveland Browns and the Denver Broncos at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
The Cleveland Browns, fresh off an overtime loss to the undefeated Denver Broncos, hit the road on Sunday to face the St. Louis Rams.
According to the website Oddsshark, the Browns have opened as 4.5 point underdogs to the Rams.
The Rams will present a familiar look to the Browns, as they currently have the 32nd ranked offense in the NFL and are 31st in points per game at 16.8. While Nick Foles and the passing game are horrendous, the one thing the Rams do pretty well on offense is run the ball as they are averaging 113.8 yards per game and 4.8 yards per carry.
Not a good matchup, on paper, for a Browns defense that has only held one team to less than 150 rushing yards in a game this season.
Defensively, the Rams are 10th overall and are tied for third in the NFL with 19 sacks, so they know how to get after the passer. While not at the Browns level, St. Louis is still weak against the run, ranking 21st as they are giving up an average of 113.4 yards per game and 4.1 yards per carry.
From a betting perspective:
- Cleveland is 2-9 straight up in its last 11 games
- The total has gone over in five of Cleveland’s last five games
- Cleveland is 4-1 ATS in its last five games on the road
- Cleveland is 1-5 straight up in its last six games on the road
- St. Louis is 2-6 ATS in its last eight games
- St. Louis is 2-6 straight up in its last eight games
- The total has gone under in four of St. Louis’ last six games
- The total has gone over in six of St. Louis’ last nine games at home
This will be just the fifth meeting between the Browns and the Rams since Cleveland returned to the NFL in 1999. The Rams have won three of those four games, including the most recent meeting in 2011.
Overall the series is tied, with each team winning 11 games.